Pricing
How Much Does Junk Removal Cost in Denver? (2026 Price Guide)
"How much will this cost?" is the first question almost everyone asks before they book a junk removal pickup, and it's a fair one — nobody wants to schedule a truck and then get hit with a number that's twice what they expected. Here's the real answer, with actual figures, not a vague "it depends."
The short answer: $100 to $600, priced by trailer space
We price every job by how much room your items take up in our 14' x 7' x 4' trailer, not by the hour and not by weight. Up to 1 hour of labor is already built into every price, so a heavier load doesn't automatically cost more as long as it fits in roughly the same space. Here's the full breakdown:
- Minimum pickup — $100
- 1/8 load — $150
- 1/4 load — $200
- 3/8 load — $275
- 1/2 load — $350
- 5/8 load — $425
- 3/4 load — $475
- 7/8 load — $550
- Full load — $600
See the full pricing page for the complete rundown, including special disposal fees. Most single-item pickups or small closet purges land in the $100–$200 range. A full garage or basement usually falls somewhere in the middle of that scale.
What actually moves the price
Volume is the big one
This is the single biggest factor. A trailer's worth of light items like boxes and clothing takes up the same space — and costs the same — as a trailer's worth of heavy items like scrap metal, because we're pricing the space it occupies, not the scale.
Item type and disposal fees
A handful of items carry their own disposal fee on top of trailer space, because they require special handling: tires run $5 (no rim) to $10 (with rim) each, latex or oil-based paint is $15 a can, Freon-containing appliances like fridges and window AC units are $25 each due to EPA-required Freon recovery, and TVs run $25 to $50 depending on size. These are flat, published fees — not surprises.
Access and labor
A third-floor walkup with no elevator, a detached shed with a long carry to the truck, or a job that needs more than the included hour of labor can add a modest amount to the quote. We always walk through this with you before starting, so it's never a surprise at the end.
Junk removal cost vs. other ways to get rid of stuff
Junk removal isn't the only option — a dumpster rental, a DIY dump run, or hiring movers to just "take it away" are all alternatives, and each makes sense in different situations. If you're weighing junk removal against a roll-off dumpster specifically, we broke down the real cost and timeline differences in dumpster rental vs. junk removal — short version, dumpsters tend to win for multi-week renovation projects, and junk removal tends to win for anything you want gone this week without you doing the loading.
Real-world cost examples
A single room purge — old furniture, boxes, and general clutter from one bedroom or office — usually runs 1/8 to 1/4 load, so $150–$200.
A full garage cleanout — years of accumulated tools, boxes, and things that never made it back inside — typically falls in the 1/2 to 3/4 load range, or $350–$475. Our garage cleanout guide walks through what to expect room by room.
A whole-home cleanout, like clearing out a house after a move or before a sale, is usually multiple loads depending on the size of the home and how much is being kept versus hauled. Our home cleanout service page has more detail on how we scope those.
An estate cleanout tends to run larger still, since it often covers an entire household at once. If you're working through one, our estate cleanout checklist covers how to sort through a full house without it becoming overwhelming.
How to keep the cost down
- Donate what's still usable first. It shrinks your load and it's the right thing to do with furniture or appliances that still work — see our furniture donation guide for what's typically accepted around Denver.
- Break down what you can. Flattened boxes and disassembled furniture take up noticeably less trailer space than intact pieces.
- Bundle everything into one pickup instead of calling multiple times for a few items each — you'll only pay the minimum once.
- Separate out anything with a flat disposal fee beforehand so it's easy to point out and confirm, rather than us finding it mixed into a pile.
Getting an accurate quote
The fastest way to get a real number, not a guess, is to text a few photos of what needs to go to 303-990-1812. We'll size it against the trailer-space breakdown above and send back an actual price before we ever show up — no walk-through required for most jobs, and no surprise line items once we're done.
Common questions
Junk removal cost FAQ
How much is a minimum junk removal pickup in Denver?
Our minimum pickup is $100. That covers a small load — a couple of bags plus a chair or end table, for example — up to about 1/8 of our trailer.
Is junk removal priced by weight or by how much space it takes up?
By space, not weight. We price by how much of our 14' x 7' x 4' trailer your items fill, from a $100 minimum up to $600 for a completely full trailer.
What's the most expensive type of item to have hauled away?
Items with disposal fees attached, like Freon-containing appliances or large TVs, tend to push a quote up the most per item, along with anything unusually heavy or hard to access.
Do you charge by the hour?
No. Pricing is based on trailer space, with up to 1 hour of labor already included. Additional labor beyond that is billed at $125 an hour, which is rare outside of very large jobs.
Are there any hidden fees I should know about?
No. Anything beyond the base trailer-space price, like a specific disposal fee for tires or paint, is called out and agreed to before we start loading, not added to the bill afterward.
How much does a typical garage cleanout cost?
Most garages land in the 1/2 to 3/4 load range, roughly $350 to $475, though a garage packed floor to ceiling can run closer to a full load.
Is renting a dumpster cheaper than hiring junk removal?
It depends on the job. Dumpster rental can pencil out for a multi-week renovation, but for most single cleanouts, junk removal ends up cheaper once you account for delivery, pickup, and permit fees on the dumpster side.
Do you offer free estimates before booking?
Yes. Text us a few photos of what you need gone and we'll send back a real price, not a rough range, before you commit to anything.
Reclaim your space today
Call or text 303-990-1812 for a free estimate — let us haul your stress away.